System for heating instillation or transfusion liquids

Abstract

A system for warming a fluid includes a fluid warmer having a housing that retains therein a heating element, and cartridge that is retained inside the housing and which receives heat from the heating element. The cartridge has a rigid plate having a first surface and a second opposing surface, with the plate having a meandering path provided therein. The cartridge also has a sheet of film that covers the first and second surfaces.

1 . A cartridge for use in a fluid warmer, comprising: 
 a rigid plate having a first surface and a second opposing surface, the plate being heat conductive and having a meandering path provided therein; and    a sheet of film that completely covers the first and second surfaces.    
   
   
       2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the film is flexible.  
   
   
       3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the film is thin.  
   
   
       4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the meandering path comprises a plurality of alternating U-shapes.  
   
   
       5 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the film is a single film that is wrapped around the plate.  
   
   
       6 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid plate is made of a non-DEHP plastic material.  
   
   
       7 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid plate and the film are made of a non-DEHP plastic material.  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A cartridge for use in a fluid warmer, comprising: 
 a rigid plate having a first surface and a second opposing surface, the plate being heat conductive and having a meandering path provided therein;    a first sheet of film that covers the first surface; and    a second sheet of film that covers the second surface.    
   
   
       10 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the film is flexible.  
   
   
       11 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the film is thin.  
   
   
       12 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the meandering path comprises a plurality of alternating U-shapes.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the rigid plate is made of a non-DEHP plastic material.  
   
   
       15 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the films are made of a non-DEHP plastic material.  
   
   
       16 . The cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the films are made of a non-DEHP plastic material.  
   
   
       17 . A system for warming a fluid, comprising: 
 a fluid warmer having a housing that retains therein a heating element,    said housing comprising an upper section and a lower section hingedly joined at one side of the upper and lower sections, said upper and lower sections adapted to rotatable open; and    a cartridge that is retained inside the housing and which receives heat from the heating element, comprising:    a rigid heat-conducting plate having a first surface and a second opposing surface, the plate having a meandering path provided therein; and    a sheet of heat-conducting film that covers the first and second surfaces, said film being adapted to receive heat from the heating element.    
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the meandering path comprises a plurality of alternating U-shapes.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the film is a single film that is wrapped around the plate.  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid warmer includes: 
 a heating element; and    a contact plate which thermally couples the heating element with the film of the cartridge, wherein the contact plate has a plurality of separate regions.    
   
   
       25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . The cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the rigid plate and the film are made of a non-DEHP plastic material.  
   
   
       27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 - 31 . (canceled)